Universal shaft-coupling.



P. R! WERNER.

UNIVERSAL SHAFT COUPLING.

APPHCATION FILED APR.20, I912 RENEWED JULY 9,1917.

Patented Apr. 9; 1918" ATTORNEYS PAUL IR. WERNER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

UNIVERSAL SHAFT-COUPLING.

Application filed April 20, 1912, Serial NO.- 692,031.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL R. WERNER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia,- State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Universal Shaft-Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my present invention is to devise a novel universal shaft coupling which will eliminate the necessity of accurately alining' the shafts connected with the coupling members, which in practice necessitates very fine adjustment of the two shafts. I v

A furtherobject of my invention. is to devise a coupling in which the noise is entirely eliminated, and in which the parts have a smooth sliding action.

A further object of my invention is to devise a novel insulated coupling in which the insulating material which is ordinarily of such nature that it has but slight tensile capacity, is placed under compression, and under such conditions such insulating ma terial has the greatest capacity for resisting strains.

A further object of my invention is to devise a coupling in which each coupling member is constructed in a similar manner, and in which, if desired, each intermediate member is constructed in a similar manner.

A further object of my invention is to devise a flexible coupling which may be quickly and readily adjusted.

A further object of my invention is to devise a coupling in which intermediate members are provided, arranged at an angle to each other and free to move in the direction of their longitudinal axis.

\Vith the above and other objects in view,

which will hereinafter more clearly appear in the detailed description, my invention -consists in its broad and generic scope of a novel and simplified construction of a coupling which is at all times noiseless in its operation and insulated if desired, and wherein the intermediate. coupling members are at all times under compression.

It further consists of a novel construction of a coupling comprising two coupling members, each of which is constructed in a similar manner, and two intermediate members, each of which is preferably con- I structed in a similar manner and preferably adapted to interlock with each other.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

seamed July 9, 1917. Serial No. 179,606.

exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalitles as hereinshown and de scr1bed.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofa fienible shaft coupling embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section thereof.

Figs. 8 and 4 represent respectively, perspective views of other embodiments of intermediate coupling members which may be employed .to advantage.

Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of one of the coupling members. i

Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of the intermediate coupling members seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 7 represents a perspective view of the other coupling member.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 represent plan views of my device having one coupling member removed and showing the intermediate coupling members in the difierent positions the may assume under working conditions.

S imilar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, in the figures.

Referring to the drawings Particular attention is directed to the fact that owing to my novel construction of intermediate coupling members and the arrangement of the end coupling members, that I am enabled to employ material which is, under ordinary conditions, impracticable to employ to transmit strains and stresses other than those of a compressive nature, but which have the property of deadening sound such as for example raw-hide,'fiber, wood and other material.

1 designates a driving shaft which is secured in any desired manner to an end coupling member 2, and in the present instance such coupling member 2 is aloertured as at which is fixed therein 3, in order to receive the end of the shaft 1 p in any desired manner. c

' 4 designates the driven shaft which is fixed in any desired manner in an aperture 5 of thetother end vcoupling member 6, and each end coupling member is constructed in a similar manner." The end coupling 2 is provided with driving members 7 and 8, which project a desireddistance from the end face 9 of the body portion of the coupling. The driving members 7 and 8 are formed by making a rectilinear cut across the end of the blank from which the coupling is being made thereby forming the parand walls 10 and 11. Arectilinear cut at an angle to the first cut is .thenmade which -a similar manner and having forms the parallel walls 12 and 13 so that each driving member has the inner walls thereof at the same angle to each other. The other end coupling member 6 is provided with driving members 14 and 15, formed in their inner faces forming parallel walls 16 and 17 and the parallel walls 18 and 19, which extend outwardly from the end-face 20 of the body The intermediate coupling members may be formed in-a" number of different ways and still be within'the scope of my 'inven:

' tion, and in the embodiment seen in Figs. 1,

2, 6 and 8 to 10 inclusive, I show intermedi-.'

ate coupling members 21 and 22, w hich are arranged at an angle to each other and interlock, and opposite ends of'each coupling.

: member'are formed in a similar manner. In

this embodiment the intermediate coupling member 21 and the intermediate coupling member 22 are duplicats,-and comprise a desired number of layers or strips 23, be-

} tween which are located at each end spacing strips 24 which do'not extend through. the

' intermediate coupling member.

center portion of the coupling member, whereby the similar-strips 23 of the intermediate coupling member-21 may pass be,- tween two strips 23 of, the othencoupling member, as will be' apparentfrom Fig. 6, and the amount of relative movement which one intermediate coupling member can have with respect to the other, depends upon the The end of each termediate coupling member converges toward its outer extrem ity, and the opposite sideof one end as at 27 is parallel with the, opposite side at the other end as at 28-, while the other sides as at 29 and30'are also parallel, in order to conform to the inner faces of the driving members .7 and 8. The'parts of each intermediate coupling member are held in posi tion by means of fastening devices 31 of any desired type, and preferably of insulating material, and since the intermediate cou pling members 21 and '22 are also preferthis case each member is simply'cut away asis indicated at 32, thereby forming the laterally extending portion 33, so that the parts will interlock and the portion 33 will an intermediate member, in the' same manner as the spacing strips'24 limit the longitudinal movement of the members 21 and 22, seen in Fig. 6; Theends of each intermediate-member. seen in Fig. 4, converge toward 7 their outer extremity and have the same contour as the ends of the intermediate members seen in Fig. 6. r

v In the embodiment seen in Fig. 3, I-have shown-intermediate members wh'ch are. es-

' pecially adapted to be employed in couplings of large size, in which case it is deslrable to provide meansfor adjusting the parts, and in th s embodiment all of the l -V termediate members have the same construction, oneintermediate member being formed by the blocks 34 and 35, with which I Q a screw '36 has threaded engagement, said screw being provided at opposite ends with ,threads of a d-iflerent character, such as for example a right hand thread at one endand axlezft hand thread at the other end, so that accurately taken care of. The other inter= mediate member is constructed of the blocks the distance of the block 34 from the block I 35 may be accurately adjusted as desired and any undue wear of the partscan be 37' and 3 8, and a screw 39, the parts being;-

constructed in a similar manner to those al-' ready described, the sides of the blocks converging toward each other, and the side of one block at one end being parallel to the opposite side of the other block at the other end of the screw. It will be seen that in this embodiment the block" of one intermediate coupling I member contacting against the screw secured to the blocks of the other coupling members will limit the movement of the parts in the same manneras already described with reference to the other forms of intermediate coupling members already described.

It. Will be apparent that lily novel plingmay also be run on Shafts having anangular displacement, in which case the intermediate members are slightly compressed at their edges,'as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and in some cases it is advantageous to bevel or round off the edgesishown in dot- 80 prevent the undue longitudinal movement of- 1 ted lines which indicate the portions compressed, When the members are made of ma a that the intermediate coupling members are interlocked between the drivmg members-of the end parts of the coupling.

It will now be apparent that owing to the novel manner of constructing the parts, the intermediate coupling members are under compression between the driving members of the end coupling members, and that one shaft may be out of alinement with th other.

It will of course be apparent that it is not necessary in all cases to have the intermediate members interlockand this feature may be dispensed with in many cases arising in practice.

In order to more clearly set forth the novel action which takes place in my novel coupling, attention is directed to the following facts. It will be seen that the driving and driven coupling members are capable of relative lateral or transverse displacement with respect to each other, and also, if desired, are capable of relative longitudinal displacement and that the relative displacement of the coupling members, owing to the novel construction, takes place without altering or varying in anymanner the relative speed of rotation of such coupling members. The coupling members are capable of relative longitudinal movement, which, in many cases arising in practice, is of marked advantage, one example of which arises when the coupling member is connected with an armature of an electric motor so that the armature is permitted to automatically center itself with respect to its magnetic field. It will also be apparent that irrespective of the number of driving members with which the coupling members are provided, and irrespective of the number of intermediate members cooperating therewith, that when the driving member is rotating in one direction one half of the number of said intermediate or spacing elements serve to transmit power, or in other words are under compression while the other half of such spacing or intermediate elements simply serve as a spacing means which prevents ny'back lash or lost motion when transmitting intermittent power. When the robeveled ed to in tation of the driving coupling member is reversed, then it will be apparent that the other half of the number of spacing or intermediate elements will serve to transmit the power. In other words, the function of onehalf of the number of spacing or intermediate elements are reversed upon a re verse rotation of the coupling members.

It will now be apparent that I have de vised a novel and useful construction of a universal shaft coupling which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in th present instance, shown anddescribed preferred embodiments thereof which have been found inpractice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a coupling, end coupling members having a plurality of driving members extending therefrom, the inner faces of which are angularly inclined, and aplurality of relatively movable intermediate couplingmembers arranged at an angle to each other" and located between said driving members. and the side ofan intermediate coupling member at one end being parallel to the opposite side of said coupling member at its other end.

2.' In a coupling, and coupling members having a plurality of driving members extending therefrom, the inner faces of which are angularly inclined, and a plurality of relatively movable intermediate interlocking coupling members arranged at anangle-to each other and located between said driving members, and the side of an intermediate coupling member at one end being parallel to the opposite side of said coupling member at its other end.

3. 111 a coupling, end coupling members having a plurality of driving members extending therefrom, the inner faces of which are angularly inclined, and a plurality of relatively movable intermediate coupling members of insulating material arranged at an angle to each other and located between said driving members, and the side of an intermediate coupling member at one end being parallel to the opposite side of said coupling member at its other end.

4. In a coupling, end coupling members having driving members extending therefrom, the inner faces of which are angularly inclined, and the faces on one driving member being parallel to the corresponding faces on the other driving member, and relat yely movable intermediate members arranged at 'gI'GSPBClJ to the other.

an angle eachother and having their outer ends converging and located between the driving members of the end coupling members. i

5. In a coupling, end members having driving members extending therefrom, the inner faces of which converge inwardly, and the inner faces on one driving member being parallel to faces of'the other driving member, and relatively movable intermediate" members having their outer ends converging and located between the driving members of said end members, and said intermediate members coacting with each other to limit the relative-movement of onemember with 6. In a coupling, end members having drivin members extending therefrom, the inneraces of Whichare angularly'inclined', and the inner faces'of one member being parallel to inner faces of the other driving member, and relatively movable intermediate members arranged'at an angle to each ing their ends converging inwardly and arranged at an angle to each other and located between thedrlving members, "and means forf varying the length of an intermediate member. x

8. In a coupling, end members each having two driving members extending therefrom, the inner faces of which are angularly inclined, and eachinner face. of one drivingmember being parallel to one of the inner faces of the other 'drivingmember, and relatively movable intermediate members arranged at an angle to each other and .capable of relative longltudinal movement, the side of each intermediate member at one end be ing parallel to the opposite side of the same member at its other end, and said intermediate members being slidably arranged between the said driving members of said end members.

9. Ina couplin end members having driving lugs exten ing therefrom, the inner: faces of which are angularly inclined, and relatively movable intermediate members each constructed in a similar manner and adapted to interlock with each other but ermit relative longitudinal movement, each mtermediate member havlng its ends converging, and the side of one member at oneend being parallel to the opposite side-of the same member at its opposite end, and

the converging'ends of an intermediate member beinglocated between the convergi members.

ing faoes of the driving members of the end 10. The combination with a driving and cured to each shaft and provided with driving members, the driving members of one coupling member overlapping the driving members of the other coupling member, and

relatively movable intermediate members arranged at right angles to each other and 1 freely movable in the direction of their lona driven shaft, of a coupling member segitudinal axes, and interlocking with saidcoupling di'iving members.

' 11. The combination with a driving and a 'drivenlshaft, of a coupling member for each shaft, said members having overlapping 1 drivinglugs, and relatively movable inter- ,mediate members arranged at an angle, to each other and freely movable in the direction of their longitudinal axes, and having their sides outwardly converging at each end and under compression between said, overlapping driving lugs.

. 12. In a coupling, end members having.

overlapping driving lugs extending there-' from, the outer faces of said lugs being rounded andthe inner faces thereof angularl-yinclined, and relatively movable inter-' mediate members of insulating material having their ends of equal thickness and arranged at an angle to each other, said ends converging outwardly and engaging the inner faces of said driving lugs and insulating said end members om each other.

13. The combination with a driving and a driven shaft, of a coupling member for each. shaft, connecting rela ively movable intermediate members between said coupling members, and means for varying the length.-

of'an intermediate member.

14. The combination Witha driving and a driven shaft, of a coupling member fix'ed at .the end of each shaft and having longitudi-' 'nally extending and overlapping driving lugs, the inner faces of each In being angularly inclined, and each of sai lugs having the same conformation, and relatively movable intermediate members of insulating material arranged at an angle to each other and havingtheir endslocatedbetween adjacent lugs and under compression.

15. The combination of a driving and a driven'coupling member, and connecting and relatively movable intermediate members, one half of the number of which transmit'gower on the rotation of the members in one .di fed.

tion while the other half of the number thereof serve as filling members, said inter mediate members being arranged". at sub-- 'stantially right angles to each other and having outwardly converging side walls at each end. V

16. The combination-ofa driving and a drivencoupling member, and connecting and a rela-tively movable 1 intermediate insulating members, one-half of the number of said intermediate members transmitting power on the rotation of the shaft in one direction, while the other half thereof serve as filling members, said intermediate members being arranged at; substantially right angles to each other and having outwardly converging side Walls at each end. 1

17. The combination of a driving and a driven coupling member, and connecting and relatively movable intermediate members, each of said members being longitudinally adjustable, and one half the number of said intermediate members transmitting power on the rotation ofthe coupling members in one direction, while the other half serve as filling members.-

18. In a coupling, two coupling members capable of relative lateral movement, and a plurality of intermediate members, each relatively movable at an angle to each other and transversely movable at an angle to the longitudinal axis of a coupling member, and said intermediate members being in sliding engagement with the coupling members and provided at their ends with outwardly convergin side walls.

, 19. n a coupling, coupling members relatively movable longitudinally and having at their juxtaposed ends overlapping driving elements, the side walls of which converge inwardly forming therebetween a space with angularly inclined walls, the angularity of said walls being constant in all. relative positions of said members, and spacing elements in said space in frictional engagement with each other and free to move at right angles to each other.

20. Ina coupling, coupling members relatively movable transversely and having at their juxtaposed ends overlapping driving elements, the side walls of which @nverge inwardly form-ing therebetween a space with angularly inclined walls, the angularity of said walls being constant in all relative positions of said members, and spacing elements in said space.

21. In a coupling, coupling members relatively movable transversely and longitudinally and having at their juxtaposed ends overlapping driving elements, the side walls of which converge inwardly forming therebetween a space with angularly inclined walls, the angularity of said walls being constant in all relative positions of said members, and spacing elements in said space.

22. The combination with driving and driven coupling members provided with overlapping driving elements having their side walls converg'in inwardly, of a plurality of relatively movable connecting intermediate members in frictional engagement with adjacent side Walls of said driving elements capable of operation with both longitudinal and lateral relative displacement of said coupling members, without altering the relative speed of rotation thereof.

23. In a coupling, coupling members relatively movable transversely, and having atv their juxtaposed ends overlapping driving elements having converging side walls forming therebetween a space with angularlyinclined Walls, the angularity ofsaid walls being constant in all relative positions of said members, and spacing elements in said space and having converging side Walls in frictional engagement with adjacent faces of said driving elements, one half of the number of said spacing elements transmitting power while the other half thereof, serve as filling elements.

PAUL R. WERNER. 

